Nabíl-i-A`zam
Encyclopedia
Mullá Muḥammad-i-Zarandí (29 July 1831 – 1892), more commonly known as Nabíl-i-A`ẓam ( "the Great Nabíl") or Nabíl-i-Zarandí ( "Nabíl of Zarand"), was an eminent Bahá'í
historian during the time of Bahá'u'lláh
, and one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
. He is most famous for authoring The Dawn-breakers
, which stands out as one of the most important and extensive accounts of the ministry of the Báb
.
He learned about the Bábí Faith
at the age of 16 and met Bahá'u'lláh in 1851. He made several journeys on behalf of Bahá'u'lláh, was imprisoned in Egypt and is the only person known to have made the two pilgrimages to the House of the Báb in Shíráz and the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád in accordance with the rites set out by Bahá'u'lláh. After the passing of Bahá'u'lláh, and at the request of `Abdu'l-Bahá
, he arranged a Tablet of Visitation from Bahá'u'lláh's writings which is now used in the Holy Shrines
. Shortly afterwards, overcome with grief, he walked into the sea and drowned.
and listen to religious discourses, and he learned to read the Qur'an
. In 1847, Nabíl, while in the village or Rubat-Karim, overheard a conversation about the Báb
and was immediately interested. Later when he was more fully informed of the religion of the Báb
through Siyyid Husayn-i-Zavari'i and became a believer in the new movement. He tried to join the Bábís at Shaykh Tabarsi
but the siege began before he could get there. He took up residence in Tehran
in the same madrisih as the transcriber of the Báb's writings; there he also met many Bábís who lived in or were travelling through the town, including Bahá'u'lláh
.
In 1852 there was an attempt on the life of the Shah, which was followed by the persecution of the Bábí community. During this time, Nabíl put forward a claim to leadership of the Bábí community stating that he had received divine inspiration. Later, when he visited Baghdad and instead recognized Bahá'u'lláh's claim, he withdrew his own.
and Adrianople
, Bahá'u'lláh sent Nabíl on numerous journeys to the Bábís of Iran. During 1867/8 his major task was to inform the Bábís of Bahá'u'lláh's claim to be He whom God shall make manifest
. On one journey, he performed the pilgrimage to the house of the Báb in Shiraz
and the house of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad
, making him the first to perform the pilgrimage according to Bahá'u'lláh's laws.
In 1868 Nabíl was sent by Bahá'u'lláh to Egypt where he was imprisoned. When he was freed, Nabíl journeyed to `Akká
, but after being recognized by the followers of Azal who had stationed themselves near the gate of the city, he was removed from the city. He travelled around the area including living on Mount Carmel and in Nazareth
until he was able to enter `Akká. On his second attempt to enter the prison city he was able to stay 81 days, meeting Mírzá Áqá Ján and then Bahá'u'lláh.
After which, he was sent by Bahá'u'lláh again to Iran to confirm the belief of many of the Bahá'ís. In 1888 he began writing The Dawn-breakers with the personal assistance of Mírzá Músá
, the brother of Bahá'u'lláh. It was finished in about a year and a half, and parts of the manuscript were reviewed and approved, some by Bahá'u'lláh, and others by `Abdu'l-Bahá.
Besides writing a lengthy history of the Bahá'í Faith, he wrote poetry about the historical events of the religion, which he would send to the Bahá'ís of Iran. His poetry, however, has not been published. A tablet by Bahá'u'lláh addresses him by name, describing him as "numbered with My favoured ones whose names the Finger of God hath inscribed."
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
historian during the time of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, and one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh
The Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh were nineteen eminent early followers of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. The apostles were designated as such by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, and the list was included in The Bahá'í World, Vol...
. He is most famous for authoring The Dawn-breakers
The Dawn-breakers (book)
The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation or Nabíl's Narrative is a historical account of the early Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths penned by Nabíl-i-A`zam in 1887-8...
, which stands out as one of the most important and extensive accounts of the ministry of the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
.
He learned about the Bábí Faith
Bábism
The Babi Faith is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852, then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire as well as underground. Its founder was Siyyid `Alí Muhammad Shirazi, who took the title Báb—meaning "Gate"—from a Shi'a theological term...
at the age of 16 and met Bahá'u'lláh in 1851. He made several journeys on behalf of Bahá'u'lláh, was imprisoned in Egypt and is the only person known to have made the two pilgrimages to the House of the Báb in Shíráz and the House of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád in accordance with the rites set out by Bahá'u'lláh. After the passing of Bahá'u'lláh, and at the request of `Abdu'l-Bahá
`Abdu'l-Bahá
‘Abdu’l-Bahá , born ‘Abbás Effendí, was the eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. In 1892, `Abdu'l-Bahá was appointed in his father's will to be his successor and head of the Bahá'í Faith. `Abdu'l-Bahá was born in Tehran to an aristocratic family of the realm...
, he arranged a Tablet of Visitation from Bahá'u'lláh's writings which is now used in the Holy Shrines
Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh
The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, located in Bahjí near Acre, Israel, is the most holy place for Bahá'ís and represents their Qiblih, or direction of prayer...
. Shortly afterwards, overcome with grief, he walked into the sea and drowned.
Background
Nabíl was born in Zarand, Iran on 29 July 1831. He was a shepherd but strove to overcome his meagre education. He would often go with his father to QomQom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
and listen to religious discourses, and he learned to read the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. In 1847, Nabíl, while in the village or Rubat-Karim, overheard a conversation about the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
and was immediately interested. Later when he was more fully informed of the religion of the Báb
Bábism
The Babi Faith is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852, then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire as well as underground. Its founder was Siyyid `Alí Muhammad Shirazi, who took the title Báb—meaning "Gate"—from a Shi'a theological term...
through Siyyid Husayn-i-Zavari'i and became a believer in the new movement. He tried to join the Bábís at Shaykh Tabarsi
Shaykh Tabarsi
', or more correctly the Shrine of Shaykh Tabarsí, was the location of a battle between the forces of the Shah of Persia and the Bábís, followers of the Báb over the period October 10, 1848 to May 10, 1849 when the prince resorted to a plan of betrayal to capture the remaining Bábís...
but the siege began before he could get there. He took up residence in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in the same madrisih as the transcriber of the Báb's writings; there he also met many Bábís who lived in or were travelling through the town, including Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
.
In 1852 there was an attempt on the life of the Shah, which was followed by the persecution of the Bábí community. During this time, Nabíl put forward a claim to leadership of the Bábí community stating that he had received divine inspiration. Later, when he visited Baghdad and instead recognized Bahá'u'lláh's claim, he withdrew his own.
Travels
From BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and Adrianople
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
, Bahá'u'lláh sent Nabíl on numerous journeys to the Bábís of Iran. During 1867/8 his major task was to inform the Bábís of Bahá'u'lláh's claim to be He whom God shall make manifest
He whom God shall make manifest
He whom God shall make manifest is a messianic figure in the religion of Babism. The messianic figure was repeatedly mentioned by the Báb, the founder of Babism, in his book, the Bayán. The Báb described the messianic figure as the origin of all divine attributes, and stated that his command was...
. On one journey, he performed the pilgrimage to the house of the Báb in Shiraz
Shiraz, Iran
Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province, the city's 2009 population was 1,455,073. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Roodkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river...
and the house of Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, making him the first to perform the pilgrimage according to Bahá'u'lláh's laws.
In 1868 Nabíl was sent by Bahá'u'lláh to Egypt where he was imprisoned. When he was freed, Nabíl journeyed to `Akká
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
, but after being recognized by the followers of Azal who had stationed themselves near the gate of the city, he was removed from the city. He travelled around the area including living on Mount Carmel and in Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
until he was able to enter `Akká. On his second attempt to enter the prison city he was able to stay 81 days, meeting Mírzá Áqá Ján and then Bahá'u'lláh.
After which, he was sent by Bahá'u'lláh again to Iran to confirm the belief of many of the Bahá'ís. In 1888 he began writing The Dawn-breakers with the personal assistance of Mírzá Músá
Mírzá Músá
Mírzá Músá , surnamed Áqáy-i-Kalím was the only true brother of Bahá'u'lláh, meaning that they shared the same mother. He was later named by Shoghi Effendi as one of the nineteen Apostles of Bahá'u'lláh....
, the brother of Bahá'u'lláh. It was finished in about a year and a half, and parts of the manuscript were reviewed and approved, some by Bahá'u'lláh, and others by `Abdu'l-Bahá.
Death
After his return from Iran, he lived in `Akká until Bahá'u'lláh's death in 1892. Overwhelmed with Bahá'u'lláh's death, he drowned himself in the sea and his dead body was found washed ashore near the city of `Akká.Besides writing a lengthy history of the Bahá'í Faith, he wrote poetry about the historical events of the religion, which he would send to the Bahá'ís of Iran. His poetry, however, has not been published. A tablet by Bahá'u'lláh addresses him by name, describing him as "numbered with My favoured ones whose names the Finger of God hath inscribed."